Can body maker interchangeable for long and short strokes



July 12, 1960 R. E. RENARD CAN BODY MAKER INTERCHANGEABLE FOR LONG ANDsHoR'r STROKES 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 3. 1954 k SRRR b SEW v zotfiwn NQQQ km July 12, 1960 R. E. RENARD 2,944,498

CAN BODY MAKER INTERCHANGEABLE FOR LONG AND SHORT STROKES 7 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed May 3. 1954 INVENTOR. ROLAND E. REA/4RD 4 4 ATTORNEY 7Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 3. 1954 Q E amt km July 12, 1960 R. E. RENARDCAN BODY MAKER INTERCHANGEABLE FOR LONG AND SHORT STROKES 7 Sheets-Sheet4 Filed May 3. 1954 July 12, 1960 R. E. RENARD 2,944,498

CAN BODY MAKER INTERCHANGEABLE FOR LONG AND SHORT STROKES Filed May 5.1954 7 Sheets-Sheet s x N M w L y m a M M E .x N w E N WWW Wm m R m mm1'' IHHH: m ii) N E W NQ W A July 12, 1960 R. E. RENARD CAN BODY MAKERINTERCHANGEABLEFOR LONG AND SHORT STROKE'S 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 3.1954 0 MM [M Y m N #7 V E R m 0 T E T D A N m. 0 Y B QN NR w 1 %w u w 4%N NE m 8 K July 12, 1960 R. E. RENARD CAN BODY MAKER INTERCHANGEABLE FORLONG AND SHORT STROKES 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed May 3, 1954 INVENTOR.

ROLAND E-RENARD BY by M1 w 93w ms Sr x ATTORNEY U9 d St t s Patent fFiled May3, 19s4',ser.No.'42'7,244

'19 Claims. .(Cl. 113-111 v f T his invention relates to a new andimproved can; body-maker. Y

' A modern can body-maker is a machine having a series oi longitudinallyspaced work and idle stations and feed mechanism to advance body blanksfrom station to station. Body blanks are fed into alaterally ofiset'hopper, atthefront of the machine, withdrawn fro m the hopper one at atime, and'advanced transversely to they center of the machine. Uponreaching the center of the machine, the blanks are then fedlongitudinally from, station to-station. vThepr-ir 1cipal station s ,ofthe machinecomprise the following; v I 1. 1 Cross feed station. 1 atwhich the blanks are fed from thei'hopper transversely to the center ofthe machine.

. Idle station 2 to provide-room forthe adjacent ;-,,work station.

. common can making practice, relatively tall cans having a maximumheight of inches and relatively short cans by unduly increasing thehaving a maximum height of 4 inches are sometimes pro-' duced on thesame machine, but this practice is unde' s'irable in that the speed ofthe machinefor short cans' is unnecessarily limited. On the other hand,in other;

instances two diiferent machines are.employed,-one for cansofapproximately 4' inches and another for cans of. approximately 5 inchheights. This practice is amassing ble in that the versatility of themachine is limited,.the re required capital investment of themanufacturer.

7 One, of the most important features of the presentinventionis-the factthat the same machine may be. used" with a minimum amount ofchangeaover, for two'dif:

ferent lengths of strokeof the feed .bars. By changing; the throw -oithecrank which drives the feed bars andmaking certain other adjustmentswhich'are hereinafterv described, the same machine may be converted fromlong stroke .(eg. 5 /2 inches) to short stroke (e.g., 4 /2 inches) Oneofthe most important means of accomplishingthe stroke change-over is areduction in the overall length length of stroke of the feed barsresides in the fact that Notching'station 3 at which the corners of onelohgi-f tudinal edge of the blank are notched toeliminateun-i necessaryoverlapping when the blank is formed. in a cylinder and the otherlongitudinaledge is slit adjacent" the corners to facilitate subsequentbending of the fedges.z

'Idle station 4 similar to station 2. Edging station 5 at which thelongitudinal edges of 'the" blank are bent backwardlyin hooks. Intheinstant machine the edging operation is performed at asingle'station, whereas in other body-makers the edging is many timesperformed at two stations. T'

Idle station 6 similar tostations 2-and 4. Forming station 7 where theblank is formed into a cylinder, the hooked longitudinal edges beinginterlocked and the seam secured by hammering.

No detailed description of the forming station or of the solderingmechanism which is behind the forming station, is set forth herein sincethese portions of the machine form no part of the present invention, andthe-construction of conventional forming stations and soldering machinewere employed.

the speed :of production of .cans of shorter heightyis con-;

siderably increased over the speed of-production of'taller:

cans: One of the reasons thatspecial machines are em'-1 ployed for shortcans is the fact that-because. of their shorter stroke and lighterweight of reciprocating parts, they can be: driven at higher speed. Inthe present machine, substahtially the same saving in weight and lengthof stroke is achieved on the shorter stroke as if a separateAccordingly, the present invention provides a machine which may beoperated on taller cans at one speed and on shortercans at a higherspeed; The changeoveris accomplished with a minimum of labor'and'timeand a minimum of necessary change parts. 1i

One of the features of the machine hereinafter-- described is the factthat the cross feed station 1 which moves the can blanks from thevertical stack of blanks" to the center of the machine is mounted on aseparate sub-frame which is movable to two positions dependingmechanisms is well understood by those skilled in the can-making art. w1 a r The advance of the can-body'blankfro'm station to stationlongitudinally of the machine is accomplished by a pair of feed barswhich reciprocate longitudinally on opposite sides of the'centerfThefeed bars carryflopv v changeover from'long to, short stroke theright-hand is permanently fixed. Nevertheless, in cornmerciabcan Imaking it is desirable, because of thecost of the bodyinaker, theamountof floor space which itocclipies in a factory, and for various otherreasons, to changeover a given machine, to work on body 'blalnksofdifierent'len'gths so as to manufacture cans of "ditferent'heightsYThus, in j on the length of stroke. The drive of the mechanism mountedin the cross-feed sub-frame is self-contained and driven -from theremainder of the machine through a chain. When the crossfeed is movedfrom'the long stroke position to the short stroke position, theonlyimportant change in the cross-feed drive is substitution of a longerchain. f Still another feature of the invention is the mounting of thestation- 3 notching machnism on a separate frame insert which, in sideelevation, resembles an L. ."fIo

and the left-hand notching station frame inserts.a re.ii1-' terchang'edso that the horizontal legs of. the L 'pr ojlect in diflerent directionsforthe difierent lengths of "stroke; In the long stroke position thehorizontal leg of theIL of .the insert projects rearwardlyfji.e. towardthe e er Patented July 2, 1950 A further feature of the inventionresides in the construction of the parts of the edger station. In manyconventional body-makers, edging of the blank is accomplished, at twodifferent stations. In such body makers the 'first edging operationinvolves a vertical movemerit of 'anedging steel which bends themarginal edge oflthe' blank at approximately a. right angle to theblank. Atf't he second edging station of such prior constructed bodymakers, the edge of the blank is bent backward s obthat'itv assumes anacute angle with respect to the blank. The employment of atwo-stageedger increases the :number and complexity of the working parts and,more. importantly, increases the'necessary length and wei'ght'of thefeed bars, 'a'principal limitation on'the maximum speed ofthe' machine;

In some prior constructed body-makers, edging is performed' at a singlestation bymeans of a complex mechanical'm'ovement which moves an edgingsteel first vertic'a-llyand-"theninwardly relative to the blank. Suchsingle *station edging mechanisms have required use-of reciprocatingparts and complex, slow-speed-movements which have limited themaximum'speed of operation of edging-and the capacity of the machine.The present invention-employs a single'e'd'ging station but employs atthe single station two edging steels'which operate insequence; onebending the edge of the blank approximately at rightangles-and the otherbendingthe edge back at an-acute-angle with respect to the blank. Thetwo steels are driven by eccentrics at a higher. rateof speed than if aearn 1 shaft were employed.

Other objects-ofthe present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to vthelaccompanying drawingsin which similar charactersof reference represent corresponding parts ineach of thev several views.

. In the drawings:

Fig. .1' is a side. elevation, partially :broken awayin section, .ofthebody-maker inv long stroke. position.

Fig.2 is 'a view similar:to Fig. 1 with thebody-maker in short strokeposition.

Fig. -3 vis a top plan of the right-hand side .of the machine in longstroke position.

I Fig. 4 isa top plan of the right-hand side of the. machine in shortstroke position partially .broken away. in section as indicated by theline-44 of Fig. 2.

Fig.5 is1a transverse verticalsection through the crossfeed mechanismtakensubstantially along the 1ine -5.-5 of .F-ig. l.

F;ig. -16-i5 a transverse vertical section through the notcher mechanismtaken substantially along the line 6-6 (if-Fig.1.

Fig.7- isa transverse vertical section through the clamp mechanismof'the edger station takenv substantially along the.line'7-.7 of Fig. l.

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section through the first edger steelmechanism taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9. is a transverse verticalsection through the secondedger steelmechanism. taken. substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. 1. v Fig; 1Gis a longitudinal vertical section .through the machine in long strokeposition.

. Fig. 11 is a horizontal section of the feed mechanism takensubstantially. alongthe line.-11--11 of Fig. 10.

Fig-12 is a fragmentary sideelevation of the long 'stroke feed bar andpresser .bar elements.

Fig.' 13 is a; perspective of. the notcher frame insert.

Fig. 14 is a schematic view illustrating the operations performed on-theblank ateach station.

i ramemembe'rs and principal drives (Figs. 4, -12

.blies, many of which are conventional in the can making art.Accordingly, many of the parts of the machine have been eliminated ordescribed only very briefly. The

mainframe 21 of the machine, only the upper part of which is shown inthe accompanying drawings, supports the sub-frames and mechanism.Extending centrally longitudinal of the main frame is a drive housing 24on which rests main table .22 which extends transversely. The sidetables 23 fit on top of the sides of the main In the center of themachine extending longitudinally thereof above the elevation of maintable is a.center table side table 23 supports a longitudinal,horizontal side. shaft 27. Side tables 23 have vertical side rails 28which-extend rearwardly behind the notchingstation to'thefonir ingstation'and are located inwardly'and aboveshaft27. The notching frameinsert 29, hereinafter described in greater detail, fits-in front ofandis associated with and constitutes an extension of the side table 23,the side rails 31 and 28* of the notcher and edger being complementary.

In front of the notcher ins'ert'29 is the cross-feed table 32 onacross-feed sub-frame 33, which inthe present body-maker'is movable-froma long-stroke position-to -a short stroke position depending upon theheight of-thecanbeingmanufactured. The cross-feed frame -33 andmechanism'are likewise described in considerable detail.

Inserts 34 and 36-011 either side of the machine 'fill in the spacebetween the cross-feed sub-frame 33 and notcher insert 29 and sidetable23, respectively; these inserts being change'parts for the long strokeposition.

The inner surfaces of the vertical railsof the cross-feed tablev 32,notcher insert 29, side tables 23, and inserts 3'4 and 36 are formedwith coplanar laterally offset horizontal tracks comprising acontinuous, horizontal feed table 39 along which the edges-of the'blankmove as it is advancedfromstation to station.

:The-cross-feed mechanism is driven by means of'a cross feedshaft41.which:extends transversely of the machine, is journalled in bearings42 in sub-frame 3.3 and is driven by chain 43 and sprockets 44 and 46from cross shaft- 47. Cross. shaft 47 also drives side shafts 27' bymeans ofimeshing bevel gears 48. and;49 oneither-sideof the machine and,by means of helical gears 51. and 5.2, cross. shaft 47 isdriven byvertical feed bar crank shaft 53.

The feedbars 56 are driven from the feed barcrank shaft 53. Attheupperend of the crank shaft'53 is a crank cheek 57 having an eccentriccrank pin 58. For differentfstrokes of the machine, cheek 57 isinterchanged for pins of different eccentricity. Crank pin 58 isconnected to the front end of connecting rod- 59 which extendsrearwardly 'of'themachine and is connected by means of wrist pin 61 tocross head 62 which reciprocates longitudinally horizontally of themachine in ways 63 formed in the inner vertical edges of a centrallongitudinal groove in main table, 22. Cross head 62 carriestransverse-cross head drive bar 64 which fits in fitting 66 on top ofcross head 62. Oneither side ofthe machine-is a longitudinallyhorizontally reciprocating feed bar 56, the lower edge whereof atapproximately midway of its length is formed with a notch 67 to receivethe upper edge-of the cross head drive bar' 64. The outer edges 'Off thefeed bars 56 fit into longitudinally, horizontailly :extending ways 68formed as grooves-in the inner vertical faces .of-therails, of 1 the.cross-feed table 31,;notche'r frame-insert 29, side tables.23..and::inserts 345and 36 and are heldthereinby retaining plates :69which; areconnectedto thevariousrails 'by screws 71.

Each; feedi barcarries aplurality of e,quidistant:.feed fingers K72.corresponding... in number to zfthe .rnunrber 10f 5 stations ofthemachine. Each finger is pivotallycon nected to the feed bar 5 6 bymeans of horizontal rivet 73 and is biased upwardly by means of ahelical spring 74 .rearwardly of the rivet 73. The upper edge 76 of thefeed fingers, when spring 74 is expanded, projects upin the positionshown in Fig. 11 and engages the trailing edge of the body blank andmoves it rearwardly to the next station onithe feed stroke. As the feedbars 56 retract, the feed fingers are depressed by reasonof the leadingedgeof the blank contracting the slanting upper cam surface 77. of thefeed fingers springs 74 b e ing compressed. The distance between feedfingers 72 is equal to the distance between stations ofthe machineandthusasthe strokeof-the body-maker is changedfrom a long stfokejto ashort stroke, the-length of the feed bars 5 6 and 'the'fwdist'ancebetween feed .fingers 72; .is. corr: spondingly changed. Ashas beenstated, the weightjpf the reciprocating .feed'bars 56 is oneofthelimitations uponjthe speed: of the machine andhence shortening of thebars onthe short stroke isvhighly desirablea :TPress'ure bar spine 30hasv a plurality of laterally pro: jectingears S'I-which arev connectedto longitudinally extending skid supports; 82. Below supports 82 areshort,-

horigontal, longitudinal pressurebar skids 83 at stations 2.,to' 6,each1presserabar skid being a short longitudinal,

horizontal foot having-vertical pins 84= biased downward by spring 86from :supports 82 so as to create, a .drag restraininganytendency of'themoving blank to slide byjnertia beyond its proper station.

. 'lojprevent retraction'of the 'blanksvas the a-feed bars retract,stationary dogs 87 are mounted 'on the center bar 78-=behind idlestation for both .its long stroke and short stroke position to engagevthe center-ofthe trailinggedge .ofgthe blank and prevent; itsretraction. 8 7 are biased downwardly; by springs 88, and during thefeed movement of the feed bars the blanksmoving from station 1 tostation 2 contact the lower slanted cam surfaces 89 of the dogs andpivot them upwardly. around pivot 91 so as to permit movement of theblanks. The foregoing described mechanism generally sets forth thevarious .portions' of the machine which are common to. all or several ofthe stations. The'individual stations arenow hereinafter described insuch detailas is necessary to enable one skilled in the can-making .artto understand the operation thereof, it being understood that by reasonof the fact that many of the mechanisms and; stations are conventional,detailed description thereof has-been eliminated. I

Station ]cross feed station (Figs. 35)

' Cross feed station 1 mechanism is driven by cross feed shaft 41 whichis in turn driven from cross shaft 47- by-spro'ckets 44 and 46 and chain43; Shaft 41 on its inner end carries a crank cheek 96 bearing a crankpin 97 which is connected to the lower end of connecting rod '98,the'opposite end of'which is connected by wrist pin'99 tosucker cups1ide 101-'whicl1 reciprocates vertically in ways in a housing 102connected to the cross feed sub-frame 34. The upper end of the suckercupslide 101 carries a fitting 103 which in turn bears on its top face'apair of sucker cups 104. The fitting 103 and housing 102 are cored outto provide a passageway 105 which is connected to a vacuum pump (notshown) so that-at the upper stroke of the sucker cups 104 a' vacuum isdrawn thereon and at the lower part of the stroke the vacuumis broken. 1Above the feed 'table is a stack-106' of blanks (1) held in stackguardsl07 which carry spring biased detents 108' engaging .theedge ofthelowermost. blanks to prevent subsequent blanks fromfollowing thebottom-most blank as -it is withdrawn-.5 At-the upper endof theirstroke, the vacuum cups 104,-

engagethe bottom surface of the lowermost blank and draw a vacuumthereupon; As; the shaft 41 revolves and the cups are lowered, thelowermost ,blank is fieired and escapes' from the detents 1 08 and iswithdrawn to the level of the cross feed table 32 whereupon the vacuumisbrokem? r .1:

Shaft'41 also drives verticalfeeddrive shaft lll'by means of matingbevel gears 1l2 and 113, shaft 111 5 being suitably journalled in thecross feed sub-frame in bearings. 114. 'Feed crank;cheek 116 on theupper end of verticalcross-feed drive shaft 111 carries a crank pin 1'17which is connected by link 118 to feed cross head 119; which [slideshorizontally transversely of the machinein-ways .12 1 formedin the,cross feed table 32 Aftertheblank is deposit'edon the feed table 32,cross fw time .1. wh ch snn st d to cr d rsss head 119 picks up theblank and moves it inwardlytranse versely; of v the ,machine. a .Sideguides 7124- maintain the byltransfer; plate 126 betwemiltop plate 127and bottom plate 128 attached to the underside of pressure, bar spine30, and to top of center. table ,26, respectively, oppo sitestaticn'l.

Idle station 2" c c, No wor-k isperformed upontheblank 20 at any oftheiidle stations 2, 4 or 6. ,At station 2 the feedbars. 56- as theyreciprocate, advanceftheblank 20(2); which has i been fed transverselyon the cross feed to a, position in front of;'the rearmost. feed.fingers 72(1),iforwa'rdly one station by pushing the trailing edge ofthe blank. -At idle -stationi2, the presser skids 83 engage .the. topsurface. of the blanlc biasin'g the. lower surface against thefeed table39 and bringit to. a stop; Dog 87v engages the trailing edge of theblank to prevent its retraction. Asthe'feed ba'r retracts theleadingedge of the blank engages the slanted cam surface 77 of the feed fingers72(2) causing the feed finger .to be depressed against'the actionofspring74.

Essentially the same structure is located at stations 4 and 6.

Notching station (Figs. 6, 13)

Station 3 notches the corners of one longitudinal edge of theblank 20(3)and slits the other longitudinal edge inwardly of the corners in amanner well understood in the .canrmaking art. For such purpose a dieblock v131 is mounted on the notcher frame-insert 29 below the feedtable 39 and -a die 132 complementary in shape to the die block ismounted above the level of the feed table 39. The die 132 is caused toreciprocate vertically and by co-action with the die block 131 performsthe notcher operations. The construction of the die and die block iscomplicated but well understood in this art and since no,novelty residesin the exact construction thereof a detailed description is not setforth in this specification. m'Ihe notcher frame insert 29 is, as hasbeen indicated, of a generally L-shape in side elevation, the horizontalentension133of the L prOViding a spacer which is im-I portant inchanging over the machine from the short stroke:to the.long-stroke. Inthe long stroke position I shownin-fig 1,;the.notcherframe insert 29 ispositioned extension- 1 33 directed rearwardly toward the edger stationStHcrebyQIocating the notcher station 3. farther from the edger. toaccommodate the longer stroke of movement Inthisiposition, the screws 7134, which attach theframe insert to the main ,table en-I holes :136Inthe short stroke position, the left hand and right hand notcher frameinserts 29 are reversed whereupon the extension 133 is directedforwardly of the machine and the frame insert is heldto the main pla inproper: alignment. It [will be understood Ithat Theframe insert29-contains a hove-tail slidewaya138 extending vertically and in theslideway fits slid'e l39 te which 3 is fas'tehed are holder --1=35 Y bynieans of s sews 140. Dies 162 are'fastened iu holder 135-by screw sothat the -die is reciprocated =as the slide 139' reciprocat'es iii-way1-38. '-Reciprocationof the-slide is accomplished -by-means of eccentric*142 on sideshaft 27, the eccentric being engaged by eccentric strap1'43 and cap 144 which- "are connected to connecting 'rod 146; the upperendofwhich isattached';toslide '139-by wrist pin 147 which passesthrough-aligned apertures in the'c'onnecting Tod 146- and ho'sses"148'extendingoutwardly on the's1ide139; V V i "This, l blank 2'0(-3)'-is moved to the -notcher' station, centered by'tIieEinner-edgeofstationary block 14'5 whieh is" an upwardiextcnsion of die block holder"0 to which die 'block'1'31' isifastenediand: comesto rest byreasonof theresistance of skids 83, die132'moves' vertically newnward ly' notchin'g1 the edges of the 'blank in proper -p osition, the scrap piecesdrag-pine falling down through passageways149. The die132 then'tnovesupwardlyafid the .blank is. fed from, the notcher'statio'n' to idlestation 4by feed'fingersi72 (3) in the samemanneras previously indicatedwith respect to the feed of the blank froin the cross-feed trans'fertoidle station12. l

It Will"be"understoodthat on the short stroke of'the machine theeccentricl142.ist located on side shafflTto the right (Fig. 2)

The change-overfrom: the short stroke to::the along stroke by reversalof' the. left- :and right-hand notcher frame inserts 29isfacilitated*hy? the-.:cons'tructionz of; the sub frame. The! centerline l'ofithe slide on thealong stroke is indicated by reference:numer-al 315.1 and--.jithe'v center line of' thevslideron'shortstrokeisindicateditby reference num'eralslSZ. Lines 151 and 215.2 aresequidi'stantfrom, but on'oppositesides'of, center line 153 of the insert.Center'line $153 is constantTorboth positions of the insert.

"It will :be understood "thattherdies 1132 and: die block's 131 'areinterchanged" for corresponding.-elementscreditferent lengths'ofiblanks' sothatflhenotches will rbe located in proper position.

After the blank (5')-=has-.heenmoved by feed fingers fatally-mounted onpivot-shaft159 journalled in ibosses 161 onside table 2-3. A verticallymovable adjustment screw 162 threadedinto-longitudina1corinecting'portion 163 of yoke'158 contacts'the upperend of'camiro'd164, the lower endfof which is provided witlra cam fol lower roller 1 66which engages; cam 1-67 "on side'shaft 27. Cam rod l 64-ha's-an enlargedguide '168'which is received within a bore 'in-bracket 169 which is:att'ached to isi'detable 2-3. Spring 171 is interposed *betweenftheguide 1 68 and a cap 172 threaded into bracket 1169 to keepfollower-166dn contact with earn "167. .Timingrot cam 1'6'7is such thatduringthecycle' when theiblankds feeding from station toj station theclamp bar 1561s raisedin the position infFig. 7 "Ofiflifi accompany ing'drawings. When the -blankhas come 1to'rest, feam rod 1646s lifted whichcausesthe yoke 158' to ro'ckiabout pivot shaft 1'59 untilthe -clarnpassumes ,the f'position shown iii-Figs. 8 and 9,fwhereupon itclampsthebiafik between clamp'bar 156 and ifeed'table'39.

' -At the edger station areffirstoperation *and j second operation edgersteels 'I'IS and174, "respectively, extending dongi tudinally. "Therei'sa setof steelsoneach-side of' 'the-naachi ne. "Thefirstoperation-'steel 173- is-heid-in a'--reeker-arm 176 which is pivoted onpivot shaft "i159 and the-end of: the rocker '"arnr' oppositefirst'steel173 is provided -with a 'boss 177 through which fits wrist pin 178-which= alsopasses through t-he bifurcated "end 179 er afitting lsl'onthe upper end of connecting "rod 182. The -lower end of the connectingrod 182isforme'd with an eccentr-ic strap 183 and cap *184-whichengagei't he eccentric -1 86'on-'side shaft '27. As side shaft 27'revolves, rocker arm 176 rocks around the pivot'ssh'aft 159 causing -acycle of movement of i the first "operation'steel as' hereinafterdescribed.

Second-operation steel 1-74 is likewise "engaged "by second rocker arm187 which is pivot'al'ly mounted on pivot shaft 159, the opposite'end of"which is formed with=-abess188 through whichfits wrist pin 189 whichalso passesthrough "the bifurcated upper end 1 91 cf second connectingrod 192, the lower end of which provided==with aneccentricstrap 1-93an'dcap 194 which pass around second eccentric 196 on side shaft 27. .As

' side shaft 27 revolves,'second steel 1 74 :is'rock'ed through acycle-of operations" hereinafter described in detail-. First operationsteel 173 :comprises threeparts; uppermost curved flank 201 whichhasn'ts 'centerof curvatureon the axisof pivotshaft 159, a transverseshoulder 202"an'd a lower flank 203. During-"the 'feed cycle of thernachine the first steel is approximately in the position shown in Fig.7 whereby the upper flank201 is -at the level of the feed table 39 sothattheouter edge of the blank "20( 5 cont acts theflank'and-is thus centeredi'elativeto the machine. *After'the clam-p 'bar IP56 has clampedtheblank-againstthe -side table asshown inF-ig. -8, the cycle'of the'first-steel brings the shoulder 202 upward so that: it engages thebottom -"surface if the edge of the blank 20(5) and bends itupwardlyagainst the outer edge oftheclamp bar 156. One feature of the presentma'chine isthat the axis of the-right=hand pivot shaft 159, as'shown inthe accompanyingFi'gsf-7 to 9, islocated above the-feedtable 39. H'encepivotal movement of the shoulder 202 produces -a 'gl-ancing,"up ward,inwardmovement rather than -a straigh't vertical movement and thebending ofthe blank 20-(5) is less likely-to cause rupture'than inordinary edger mechanisrns.

Afterthe' first steel-173 has risen to the position shown in Fig.8:itbeginsto retract until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 9 atthe bottom of its cycle-and is out 'o'f the Way to permit the secondoperation steel 174 to come into operative position.

Thelower edge 204 of second operation: steel 17.4. has a;slanted surfacewhich is. complementary to the. surface 157 of clamp bar ,156,;-theangle being the desired ultimate angle of the bent-backedge of the blank20(5) rel-ativetothe main body of the blank. The second operation steelmoves v174 down to the vposition-shownin Fig. '9 andbends the'edge ofblank 20(5) back against the clamp bar.156 to the position shown.

After the sequence of operation shown in Fig. 8 has been completed, thesecond operation steel 174 moves upward until it eventually reaches theposition-shown in Fig. 7 and. the clamp 1S6 moves upward to thepositionshown in Fig. 7. Upon release of the blank 20(5).from between-theclampsbar and feed table, the blank isxfree to'move longitudinally ofthe machine to idle station-6.

The-steels.'17;3 and 174 shown in Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, areon the:right-hand side. of the machine as viewed-from thefront. On the righthand'side, the-edgetzof the blank is bent upwardly and'inwardly. Ontheleft-hand side of the machine, however, "the edge of the blank is bentdownwardly and inwardly. Accordingly, on the 1 lefthand sideof "themachine (not shown) the pivot'shaft- 1 59 is below the level of the feedtable '39; firstand'second' operation'steels 173- and'174 are invertedfrom: the position"-'shown'in Figs. "7 m9 andtheedgeofthefed Fig. 1.

'95 7 table 39 is formed wedge-shaped resembling thejlower edge 157 ofthe clamp bar 156. The construction of the left-hand side of the edgerstation will be apparent to one skilled in the can-making art from aconsideration of the description and illustration of the right-hand sideof the machine which hasbeen set forth.

Change-over from long stroke to short stroke With the exception of Figs.2 and 4, the accompanying drawings are shown with the machine in longstroke position. In such position the feed fingers 72 are spaced apart adistance equal to the long stroke (e.g. /2 inches between centers) andthe throw of crank 57, is, accordingly, one-half that distance The crossfeed table 32 and cross feed sub-frame 33 are to' the leftas viewed inIn order to drive shaft .41, the shorter chain 43 is employed to connectsprocket 44 to sprocket 46. The notcher insert blocks 29 are sopositioned that the horizontal extension 133 is directed rea'rwardlyofthe machine. f q j i In order to change over the machine'to theshorter stroke, shorter feed bars 56 are substituted, the distancebetween the feed fingers 72 equaling the shorter stroke (e.g. 4 /2inches). A shorter throw crank 57 is substitutedto accommodate theshorter strokeof the feed bars. Cross feed sub-frame 33 is moved to theright. A longer chain 43 is employed to connect sprocket'44 to sprocket46. e e

Thenotcher frame inserts 29 are reversed from the right-hand to theleft-hand side of the machine. and viceversa, so that the extensions 133are directed forwardly of the machine. Eccentric 142 is moved'to theright so as to line up with connecting rod 146.

' It will further be understood that the notcher die 132 and die block131 are interchanged for shorter ,dies and blocks by reason of theshorter blanks accommodated and that the edger steels 173 and 174 andclamp bars1-56 are likewise interchanged for shorter correspondingmembers to accommodate shorter blanks. Shorter pressure bar skids 83 anelikewiseemployed. I

Change-over for different diameter cans The width of the bank 20 dependsupon'the diameter (3) on' one side and forms corresponding slits on theI edge onthe other side; The slides 139 move upward in time for the nextfee'd cycle whereupon fingers 72(3)- move the blank 20(4) to idlestation 4. v On the next feed cycle, feed fingers 72(4) moveithe blankto the edger station 5. At theedgerstation, the blank120 (5) is centeredby flanks 201 of first operation steel 73. Clamp 156 then is depressedby rotation of the side shaft 27 which causes cam167 to raise camfollower 166, rocking yoke 158 about pivot shaft 159. First edgersteel173 on the right-hand side'moves upward. causing shoulder 202 toengage the undersurface of the edged the blank. 20(5) and move itupwardly and inwardly at a glancing. angle which is occasionedbythe'fact that the axis of pivot shaft 159 is above thelevel of feedtable 39. On the left-hand side'of the machine the axis of pivotshaft;;-159jis' below the feed table so thatthe first operationsteel(which is inverted with respectto the right-hand of the can to beformed. Change over'for diameter changes in the present machine does notdiffer materially from change-overs in conventional body-makers and thedetails thereof are notdescribed herein.

Operation The operation of the machine is essentially the same whetherthe long stroke or short stroke is employed. Blanks 20 are deposited inthestack 106'above the cross feed table 32. As the shaft 47' is drivenby'an electric motor (not shown) crank 96 revolves which causes verticalreciprocation of the suction cups 104. With each cycle of the machinethe lowermost blank 20(1) is drawn out ofthe stack to the level of thecross feed table. In timed relationship to the withdrawal of the blank,upon rotation of crank 118, cross feed finger 122 drives the blankinwardly onto the center of the machine between plates 1'27'and128 atthe level of the feed t b 9 a At the time the blan-k is fed betweenplates 127 and 128 the feed bar s 56 are in retracted position'by'reason of the position of crank 57/ As "crank 57 revolves, the feedbarsare rnoved' rea rwardly, 'fe'ed fingers 72(1) en'-ga'ginglthe..trailiiig"nd"of the blank 20(1) and pushing itrear'wardtoidle station2. At idle station 2 the bl-ank 20(2) isb'rought'torest by the drag created by skids 83 and the dog 87" enga esthe trailifi edge of the blank adapter/ants its'retraeaonr On the nextstroke of the machine, the feed fingers 72(2) move the blank to notcherstation 3. The rotation of shaft 47 likewise drives side shaft 27 andthis in turn rotates eccentric 142 and causes notcher slide 139 toreciprocate. Downward movement of the slide and die 132 side -offthemachine) moves downwardly and inwardly in a glancing stroke. On theright-hand side,-.theyfirst breaker steel 173.then retracts as thesecond operation edger steel 174 moves downwardly and the lower bevelededge 204 of the second steel engages the blank and bends it inwardly incooperation with the slanted surface 157 of the clamp bar 156 untilitheproper angle is attained'. On the left-hand side of the machine thesecond edger steel moves upwardly on its working stroke rather thandownwardly.:.At the end of the cycle thesecond steels 174 retract andthe clamp 156 moves upwardly permitting feed fingers 72,(5) to move theblank 20(6) rearwardly on thenextfeed; strokelof the machine,- I 1 1w;

Feedj fingers,92(5) move the blank 20(6) to'idle sta: tion 6.

. 1; .On the next stroke of-the machine, feed fingers move the blankrearward to the forming station 7 which is {not describedflhere indetail. The cylinder 20(7) thus formed is then soldered by solderingmechanism (also not shown). I r

7 What is claimed is: q I 1. In avariable stroke can body-maker machine.for manufacturingcan bodies from fiat blanks:

a main frame; 7 ,1 I a. plurality of' work stations spacedlongitudinally .on said frame; comprising a transfer station, a notcherstation, an edger station and a forming station, .the lo cation of aplurality-of said stations being changeable iforja long stroke positionand a short stroke position; i reciprocatory feed means for advancingblanks from station to station intermittently;

. and feed drive means for said feed means; 7

said feed means and feed'drive means being interchangeable for long"stroke and short stroke;

7 said transfer station comprising a transfer sub-frame;

-said transfer'sub-frame being movable longitudinally of said mainframefrom a long stroke to a short stroke position; v --transmissionmeans for driving said transfer station adjustable for differentpositions of said transfer subam 1 i .1 said notcher station' comprisinga notcher sub-frame on each side of themachine, a slide reciprocableoneach said notchersubframe, a die on each said slide, a cooperatingdie. block on. eachsaid notcher sub-frame, and notcher drivemeans forreciprocating said slides; said notches sub-framerb eing movable on saidmaini frame from a long stroke to a short stroke position. I i i .12. .Amachine according to claim 1 in-which are provided side shafts on eitherside of the machine journalled in said; side frames, saidnotcherdrivejmeans and edger station means being driven from said side shafts, saidfeeddrive means, transfer station means and side shafts being drivensynchronously.

3. A machine according to claim 2 in which said side carried onsaid-side shafts for actuating said notcherdrive means both inlong-stroke and short stroke position.

4-.-A machine according to claim 1 in which said notcher-sub frames areL-shaped in elevation, the horizontal extensions of said notchersub-frames extending in the same direction, said notcher sub-framesbeing inter'changeahle from one sideof the machine to the other so thatin long-stroke position said extensions extend in one direction and inshort stroke position said extensions extend in the oppositedirection.

'5. A machine according to claim 1 in which are provided idler stationsbetween at least some work stations.

6. .A'machineaccording to claim 1 in which said feedmeans:compiiseslongitudinal.feed bars, a plurality of equally spacedfeed fingers pivotally mounted on said bars t'o engage-the trailingedge-of a blank and means mounting saidbars for reciprocation.

7. A machine according to claim 6 in which the distance between fingersis equal to the distance between stations and saidfeed bars areinterchangeable for long stroke and short strokepositions of said workstations.

8. A variable stroke can body-maker machine for manufacturing can bodiesfrom flat blanks comprising:

-a main frame;

transfer means mounted on said main frame for transferring' blanks oneat'a tirneinto the machine;

notcher means'mounted on said main frame for notching the edges of ablank;

' edgerrneans mounted on-said main frame for edging a'blank;

and'means for advancing a blank a uniform distance at a time to aplurality of stations, including stations at which said transfer means,notcher means and edger means are located;

said feed means, transfer means, notcher means-and edger means being"driven synchronously;

said feed means being interchangeable for a long stroke and a shortstroke;

said transfer means being movable on said main frame from a long strokeposition to a short stroke position, said notcher means being movable onsaid main frame from a corresponding long stroke position to acorresponding short stroke position. '9..A machine according to claim 8in which said notcher means comprises a notcher frame insert on eachside of-the machine, each having a longitudinal extension projecting inone direction in long stroke position and in the opposite direction inshort stroke position.

10. A machine according to claim 8 in which said notcher means comprisesnotcher frame inserts, one on each side of the machine, said insertsbeing interchangeable for different lengths of stroke.

11. A machine according to claim 8 in which said notcher means comprisesnotcher frame inserts, one on each side of the machine, said insertsbeing interchangeable on opposite sides of the machine for differentlengths of stroke.

12. A machine according to claim 8 in which said transfer means,notchermeans and edger means for long stroke position are spaced apartmultiples of said long stroke and for short stroke position are spacedapart multiples of said short stroke and in which said notcher meanscomprises a notcher frame insert having a horizontal extension in onedirection and having a reciprocating slide and a diemounted on saidslide, the center line of said slide and die being offset to one side ofthe center line of said insert.

13. A machine according to claim 12 in which'the center line of saidinsert is the same for long and short stroke positions and in which thecenter line of said'slide 12 and-die is spaced forwardly-fromthe centerline of said insertin' long stroke position and spaced rearwardly anequal distance from said-center line of said insert in short strokeposition.

1'4. Anotching mechanism'for a can bodymaker machine adjustabie for along stroke position and a short stroke position, comprising a mainframe, a pair of notcher subframes on transversely opposite sides ofsaid mainframe movable on said main frame from a long stroke position toa short stroke position by interchange of said subframes to oppositesides of said main frame, means securing said subframes on said mainframe in each of said positions, a slide on each said subframereciprocable on said subframe, a die on each said slide, apair ofdie'blocks on said subframe cooperable with said dies, drive means forreciprocating said slides, said subframes being Lshaped in elevation,the horizontal extensions of said subfrarnes extending in the samelongitudinal directiomsaid subframes being interchangeable from one sideof the machine to the other so that in long stroke position saidextensions extend in one direction and in short stroke position saidextensions extend in the opposite direction.

15. A mechanism according to claim 14, in which in long stroke positionsaid horizontal extensions extend toward the discharge end of themechanism and in short stroke position said horizontal extensions extendaway from the discharge end of the mechanism.

16. A mechanism according to claim 14, in which the longitudinal centerline of said slide is offset longitudinally to one side of thelongitudinal center line of said subframe.

17. A mechanism according to claim 16, in which the longitudinal centerline of said mechanism is the same for long and short stroke positionsand in which the longitudinal center line of said slide is spaced towardthe discharge end ofsaid mechanism from the longitudinal center line ofsaid mechanism in long stroke position and is spaced from saidlongitudinal center line of said mechanism an equal distance away fromsaid discharge end in short stroke position.

18. A notching'mechanism fora can bodymaker adjustable for a long strokeposition and a short stroke position, comprising a notcher frame havingan extended length movable between a long stroke and a short strokeposition and having a longitudinal frame center line, a slidereciprocable on said notcher frame and having a longitudinal slidecenter line, said slide center line being displaced longitudinally fromsaid frame center line, and cooperating notcher die means on said. slideand frame.

19. A mechanism according to claim 18, in which said slide center lineis spaced relative to said frame center line toward the discharge end ofsaid mechanism in long stroke position and away from the discharge endof said mechanism in short stroke position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS LaxoNov. 23, 1954

